HomeAnswersPharmacologyurinalysisI have been taking Vicodin for the past six months and have a urine drug test in five weeks. How do I taper the dosage?

How can I prevent Vicodin from being detected in urine?

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Published At September 5, 2023
Reviewed AtJanuary 17, 2024

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I have been on Vicodin for six months, and have a urine drug screen in five weeks. Will it be out of my system? I am also on birth control medications. Please help.

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Amrit Agarwal

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query, and I can understand your concern.

Vicodin is a combination of Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone. Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen are metabolized through our body extensively by the hepatic pathway. The biological half-life of Hydrocodone is 228 to 294 minutes and is entirely excreted from the body within 12 hours.

The half-life of Acetaminophen is 120 to 240 minutes and is excreted completely from the body within 8 to 10 hours. So I would suggest you taper down the dose of the drug and consume three fourth of the dose you have for five days. After that, take half of the dose for five days, then consecutively reduce it to one-fourth of the initial dose, and then stop. This will neither lead you to addiction nor this drug will appear in your urine examination. Although both the salts of this drug are excreted mainly through the urinary route. But your drug screening is scheduled after five weeks, and I have suggested you start tapering the dose from today. So there are no chances of drugs in your urine.

I hope this information will help you.

Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Amrit Agarwal
Dr. Amrit Agarwal

Pharmacology

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